Sam Anderson

I think about what this process must have been like for these two suspects to find themselves in the crosshairs of a major FBI investigation.

I think about what this process must have been like for these two suspects to find themselves in the crosshairs of a major FBI investigation.

The guy jerking off in the construction site, he kind of had it coming. But the firefighter? The FBI might have ruled her out, but she still had to go to work the next day with the same colleagues who said she had a goofy reputation and therefore might be an arsonist. The firefighter and that local guy are just two of the many leads the team chases down. All of them end up in dead ends.

The guy jerking off in the construction site, he kind of had it coming. But the firefighter? The FBI might have ruled her out, but she still had to go to work the next day with the same colleagues who said she had a goofy reputation and therefore might be an arsonist. The firefighter and that local guy are just two of the many leads the team chases down. All of them end up in dead ends.

Even with all of Ken's experience, the investigators are still struggling to find the needle in that haystack of tips. But they're not just relying on tips. Investigators take more proactive measures, too. Rabbit hole number three. They target the small but mighty cohort of environmental activists in Phoenix. And not all of them appreciate the attention.

Even with all of Ken's experience, the investigators are still struggling to find the needle in that haystack of tips. But they're not just relying on tips. Investigators take more proactive measures, too. Rabbit hole number three. They target the small but mighty cohort of environmental activists in Phoenix. And not all of them appreciate the attention.

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This is Scott Meyer. He's tall, a bit more put together than you'd expect from a lifetime activist. And he has a sort of permanently bemused expression on his face.

This is Scott Meyer. He's tall, a bit more put together than you'd expect from a lifetime activist. And he has a sort of permanently bemused expression on his face.

The office in his house is full of anti-capitalist memes, printed out and stuck on the walls.

The office in his house is full of anti-capitalist memes, printed out and stuck on the walls.

— He's been an environmental activist in Phoenix for decades. His specialty is taking polluters to court. And he's really good at it.

— He's been an environmental activist in Phoenix for decades. His specialty is taking polluters to court. And he's really good at it.

Scott lives with his longtime collaborator, Steve. They run a group called Don't Waste Arizona, and they're both frustrated at the narrative springing up in the news. About environmentalists being eco-terrorists, which is just pure bullshit. Next thing he knows, Scott hears a knock at the door. He cracks it open, and his dog goes crazy in the hallway. Outside are two serious-looking dudes.

Scott lives with his longtime collaborator, Steve. They run a group called Don't Waste Arizona, and they're both frustrated at the narrative springing up in the news. About environmentalists being eco-terrorists, which is just pure bullshit. Next thing he knows, Scott hears a knock at the door. He cracks it open, and his dog goes crazy in the hallway. Outside are two serious-looking dudes.

It's the FBI. The agents introduce themselves and come inside. Scott drags his dog out of the room to protect that gorgeous suit from dog hair. Once they've settled down, the interrogation begins.

It's the FBI. The agents introduce themselves and come inside. Scott drags his dog out of the room to protect that gorgeous suit from dog hair. Once they've settled down, the interrogation begins.

— Scott and Steve live in the south of Phoenix, which is completely on the other side of town from where the fires are taking place. one FBI agent's attention is drawn to the wall of Scott's house. There's a big map of Phoenix covered with colored pins, like something straight out of a true crime show. They were studying that and looking at that, and they just didn't know what to think, you know?

— Scott and Steve live in the south of Phoenix, which is completely on the other side of town from where the fires are taking place. one FBI agent's attention is drawn to the wall of Scott's house. There's a big map of Phoenix covered with colored pins, like something straight out of a true crime show. They were studying that and looking at that, and they just didn't know what to think, you know?